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Outsourcing Frontlines:The Lessons Never End
Kristine Coco - MidwayGDC 2007
Chicago
AustinSan DiegoLos Angeles
Seattle
NewcastleNewcastle
Outsourcers
Outsourcing Pipelines
• Concept Art• 3D Objects • Characters• Vehicles• Levels
Outsourcing Pipelines
• Concept Art• 3D Objects • Characters• Vehicles• Levels
Outsourcing Pipelines
• Concept Art• 3D Objects • Characters• Vehicles• Levels
Outsourcing Pipelines
• Concept Art• 3D Objects • Characters• Vehicles• Levels
Outsourcing Pipelines
• Concept Art• 3D Objects • Characters• Vehicles• Levels
Internal Process Makes or Breaks Us
Good Internal Process• #1 – Integrate vendor into team
Good Internal Process
Typical Outsourcing Issues
• Late delivery• Over budget• Poor quality
Root Problems
• Poor internal process• Wrong vendors• Bad tools
– Miscommunication– Unrealistic expectations
Vendors
• Carefully vet vendors– Management– Experience– Skills
Tools
• Communication– Provide visibility– Key info in one place– Frequent
• Delivery– Integrated into team workflow– Foolproof
Internal Process
• Scope• Pre-Production • Requirements• Feedback• Staffing
Internal Process
• Scope• Pre-Production• Requirements• Feedback• Staffing
Internal Process
• Scope• Pre-Production • Requirements• Feedback• Staffing
Internal Process
• Scope• Pre-Production • Requirements• Feedback• Staffing
Internal Process
• Scope• Pre-Production• Requirements• Feedback• Staffing
Scope
• Good scope is exact– Specific asset list– Deadline– Budget
• Bad scope is undefined– Estimates– Asset types
Scope
• 329 unique assets
Asset Name Time
Shirt1 2d
Shirt2 2d
Earrings1 3d
Pants1 3d
Scope
• Defined scope gets you solid bid
Asset Name Time Start Date End DateShirt1 3.3d 16-Jan 19-JanShirt2 2.9d 16-Jan 18-JanEarrings1 3.9d 16-Jan 20-JanPants1 3.9d 16-Jan 20-Jan
Scope
• Bad scope cost us extra money & time
Each prop was a 4-day task
Man Day Rate Time Actual Cost Paid1 prop
$400 3d $1,200 $1,600
Pre-Production
• Pre-production provides efficiency– Slow ramp up– Training
• No pre-production cause mistakes– Not enough time– Start heavy load immediately
Pre-Production
• ~ 3+ months to get ready to start work
4 weeks 3 weeks 3 weeks 6 weeksTests Negotiation Schedule Logistics & Training
Pre-Production
329 unique assets
Month 1 Month 2 Month 334 assets 74 assets 73 assets
• Good requirements leave no questions– Provide detail upfront
• Bad requirements create more work– Shouldn’t make assumptions
Requirements
Requirements
• Reference• Quality Target• Proxy• Process• Technical Spec
Requirements
• Reference• Quality Target• Proxy• Process• Technical Spec
Requirements
• Reference• Quality Target• Proxy• Process• Technical Spec
Requirements
• Reference• Quality Target• Proxy• Process• Technical Spec
How To Build
Low Poly Model
High Poly Model
UVs
Collision
Smoothing Groups
Tiling Textures
Requirements
• Reference• Quality Target• Proxy• Process• Technical Spec
Requirements
• Bad requirements are common– Assumptions are easy to make
• Assumptions cause rework
Requirements
• Bad requirements caused errors with – Scrolling UVs– Inefficient textures– Missing detail in geometry– 2-sided materials– Incorrect tiling at seams– Wrong materials– Smoothing groups
Feedback
• Good feedback reduces iteration– Visual– Exact– Frequent
• Bad feedback causes extra work– Vague– Open-ended
Feedback
Feedback
Feedback
Feedback
• Too much text
Feedback
Feedback• Unclear
Feedback• Visual and frequent!
Staffing
• Good staffing plan provides bandwidth– Requirements– Feedback
• Bad staffing plan causes mistakes– Delays– Miscommunication
Staffing
• Requirement packets– 1 FT artist can do 25 packets a week
• 250 assets require 10 man weeks of prep
Staffing
• Providing feedback is full-time job– 1 artist can support ~30 assets at once
• 60 assets require 2 full-time artists
In Summary
• Internal process can make or break you– Scope– Pre-Production– Requirements– Feedback– Staffing
Q/A
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